Unit building construction



Jan. 30, 1934.v R S 1,945,124

UNIT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN V EN TOR. Joseph B. Sir-a v.93.

ATTORNEY Filed May 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG I N V EN TOR. J0 sap/1 B. Sir-a uss ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. J. B. STRAUSS UNIT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 30, 1934. '1 s uss 1,945,124

' UNIT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1952 4 Sheeis-Shet 4 I I l t y /33 k r l a I I i FIG.16 3 I, I i q r b 1 L, .L u 1 uy.

a FIG. 15 g 39 Z I r IN V EN TOR.

Joseph B. 661-6 ass FIG.18 I cEikgcLwr WEY.

Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in inter-locking sectional buildings, and has particular reference to a system of fabrication.

The principal object of this invention is to 5 produce a building constructed of units readily adapted to engage one another so as to make a completed structure.

A further object is to provide means for inter-locking these various units.

A further object is to produce a structure which may be erected first, as a skeleton framework, thence enclosing this skeleton structure by wall sections, and third, by placing the floors and roof joists thereon, thus completing the structure.

A still further object is to provide means whereby resistance. to settlement, fire and earthquake shocks is provided for.

A further object is to provide a concrete structure having metal edges whereby the structure may be pre-cast and readily transported to the place of use.

A further object is to provide means for sealing the joints of the various units against the elements.

A further object is to produce a structure wherein either a single or double wall may be utilized.

A further object is to produce a structure wherein the pipes, service conduits and the like may be concealed within the structure.

A further object is to provide means whereby the interior and exterior decorations may be incorporated in the units at the point of casting, thus eliminating the decorations after the building has been erected.

- A still further object is to produce a structure wherein a minimum amount of labor will be employed, thus reducing the cost of a building of this type, so that it may be comparable with a wooden structure.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming, a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the general arrangement of my unit construction,

Figure 2 is a side and cross-sectional view of -the vertical inter-locking plate,

Figure 3 is a side and cross-sectional view of a continuous horizontal interlocking plate, I

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the continuous horizontal locking plate for interior wall and ceiling units,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the columns and connecting girders,

Fig re 6 is a perspective view showing the base plate upon which the girder of Fig. 5- rests,

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing i the manner of connecting a beam to the corner column,

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8. v

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10,

Figure 12 is a top and side elevation of a diaphragm bracket for use with a corner column, 76

Figure 13 is a similar view showing a bracket for use with intermediate columns,

Figure 14 is a similar view showing a diaphragm plate for use in the column construction,

' Figure 15 is a side elevation partly in crosssection showing a unit slab,

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15,

Figure 17 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which two slabs are locked together and sealed against moisture, and

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view partly in cross-section showing the appearanceof various units at their points of juncture, one of said units being shown in cross-section, and one of said units being broken away to show the reinforcing units.

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1919 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 20 is a cross sectional view on the line 2020 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view on the line 2121 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of Fig. 12,

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of Fig. 14.

Applicant is aware of the fact that concrete buildings have been employed where sturdy construction is necessary. Applicant believes how- 105 ever, that he has devised a new system of building construction wherein a plurality of pre-cast units are assembled at the'point of use in such a manner as to produce an artistic, economical and permanent form of structure, which struc- 7 is so designed as to have a configuration which will set within the base of a column to be supported upon the foundation 5. The column (see Fig. 5) is preferably made of spaced angle members 8, four in number, which are held in proper relation thru the medium of spaced diaphragm plates 9. These diaphragm plates are preferably spaced about a foot apart, and have their connecting surface welded to the angle members 8. When the column is placed over the plate 7, the connecting portion of the angle members 8 are welded to the plate 7. In constructing these columns, the same are fabricated in a factory and the column is filled with concrete as-shown at 11. This concrete may be of any type, and in some instances, I prefer to employ a vibrolithic concrete which is a very homogeneous mass, yet of light weight.

Jt is understood, that in building a structure, various corner columns are employed, andbetween these corner columns are properly spaced intermediate columns, and that between these columns are secured girders of standard con- 'struction. These girders are best illustrated in Figs- 1 and 5, and designated as a whole by the numeral 12. Inorder to fasten the girders to the columns, I employ diaphragm plates having projections extending beyond the line of the column. These diaphragm plates are incorporated in the column during the construction of the same. i

Referring to Fig. 12, I have shown a corner diaphragm plate 13 having bracket plates 14 and 16, angularly disposed with relation to each other, and in Fig. 13, I have shown a diaphragm plate 1'? having plates 18 and '19 extending in opposite directions therefrom. This last type of bracket plate is employed in the intermediate columns. In fabricating a column at the point where the girders are to be joined to the column, I employ two spaced diaphragm plates, one of which has the extensions formed thereon, and between these two spaced diaphragm plates, I insert a backing plate 21 which abuts the angle member 8'and'are welded thereto. These backing plates serve to support webs 22 also welded thereto and to the bracket plates. These webs serve as a means of connecting the lower part of the girder.

It will be noted, that each one of the diaphragm plates has, an opening 23 therethru, which permits conduit pipes 24 to be passed thru the columns so that suitable electrical wiring and other service pipes may be effectively by-passed from one floor to the next. These conduits are embedded in the concrete when the columns are formed. After the skeleton framework has been erected, fabricated floor joists 26 are joined to the girders'12 and bridging bars 27 extending between the floor joists, permitting ceiling slabs 28 to be hung therefrom. Floor slabs 29 are supported upon the floor joists, the construction of these slabs will be later described. Positioned the numeral 39. In order to interlock the horibetween the columns are wall slabs 31, all of these slabs comprise units which are fabricated and then assembled upon the job, and consist of metal frames 33 having wire fabric 34 welded or otherwise secured thereto. Into this frame is poured a plastic composition which is preferably of a light weight type. The frame 33 has a groove 36 extending around the margins of the slab. This groove serves to interlock with a head 37 formed upon the opposite sides of inter- 3 locking plates. These plates are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. In Fig. 2, I have shown an interlocking plate of a type particularly adapted for constructing a wall surface having a hollow air space, therebetween. These interlocking plates are provided with openings 38 th'erethru which permit air circulation, and also serves 7 to accommodate conduits. The interlocking plate shown in Fig. 2 is designated as a whole by zontal abutting surfaces of the various units, I provide horizontal interlocking plates, one of which is shown at 41, in Fig. 3. These plates are recessed upon their ends so as to accommodate for the beads 37 of the vertical interlocking plates against which they abut. A sealing compound is preferably interposed between the interlocking plates and the margins of the slab units so that a water-tight seal is effected. The manner in which the vertical and horizontal interlocking plates join is best illustrated in Fig. 18, and it will here be noted that thru this arrangement, an artistic structure may be formed. These interlocking plates may be made of any desired configuration as long as the bead 37 is provided to accommodate for the joining with the units. 7 One modified form of interlocking plate is shown in Fig. 4, and is adapted for the supporting of ceiling and interior side wall units.

The result of this construction is that I have devised a process embracing the joining to a poured foundation of a skeleton framework which may be fabricated at a distant point, erected and leveled into true alignment, after which girders, floor joists, etc., may be installed and to which structure, enclosing slab units may be attached, thus enabling a person to build a structure having all of the advantages of a modern reinforced concrete building at a minimum expense, due to the fact that all of the units thereof are factory formed, and merely assembled upon the job, and thru the pre-cast slabs, any desired decoration may be formed upon the slabs previous to erection, thus producing a finished structure as soon as the units are in place, in counter-distinction 13 to an ordinary building which must be decorated both exteriorally and interiorally, after erection.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to, be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material,

size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 4

Having thus described my invention, I claim:- 1. In a building system, a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges, a recomposition wall units having metal edges, a recessed portion formed in said metal edges, interlocking elements interposed between said edges of both wall surfaces and having a protruding portion fitting into the recessed portions of said edges, said element acting to tie the inner and outer wall surfaces together.

3. In a building system having a double wall and comprising an outer and an inner wall surface, each wall including a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges, a recess portion in said metal edges, a horizontal element for each wall surface fitting between the horizontal edges of said units and having a protruding portion fitting into the recessed portion of said edges and a vertical element common to both wall surfaces, said element fitting between the vertical edges of said units and having protruding portions fitting into the recessed portions of said vertical edges, said vertical elements serving to tie the inner and outer wall surfaces together.

4. In a building system having a double wall and comprising an outer and an inner wall surface, each wall including a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges, a recess formed in said edges, a horizontal element for each wall surface fitting between the horizontal edges of said wall units and having a protruding portion fitting into the recesses of said edges and a vertical element common to both wall surfaces, said element fitting between the vertical edges of said wall units and having protruding portions fitting into the recesses of said vertical edges, said vertical elements serving to tie the inner and outer wall surfaces together, the vertical members extending from top to bottom of the wall, the horizontal members extending between the vertical elements only.

5. In a building system, a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges, a recess formed in said edges, horizontal and vertical interlocking elements between said edges and having protruding portions fitting into the recess portions of said edges, said elements acting as an interlocking and sealing means.

6. In a building system, a series of separate rectangular shaped and relatively thin wall units, said units having metal edges, a metal webbing connected to the metal edges and a composition material embedding said webbing and surrounded by said metal edges and a series of separate vertical and horizontal interlocking and sealing members associated with said metal edged wall units.

7. In a building system including two walls separated by an air space, of-a seriesof separate rectangular shaped and relatively thin units forming said walls, said units having metal edges, a metal webbing connected to the metal edges, a composition material embedding said webbing and surrounded by said metal edging, said metal edges having a recess formed therein, and on its outer vertical members fitting between the vertical edges of the units of both walls and interlocking with said units, said vertical members tying and sealing the two walls together, and horizontal members between the horizontal edges of said units.

8. In a device of the character described, a series of separate and relatively thin wall units, said units having channel shaped edge members with the flanges turned inwards, said channel shaped edge member having a recess formed in rators extending from the front to the rear surits outer edge, a metal webbing connected to the metal edges and a composition material embedding said webbing and surrounded by said metal edges.

.9. In a building system, an outer and inner wall comprising metal bound composition units, a series of vertical metal separators extending from the front to the rear surface of said sections and interlocking with them, said vertical separators extending from the bottom of said wall to the top and a series of horizontal metal separators, interlocking with the sections and extending between the vertical separators.

10. In a building, a series of posts, girders central of said posts, an outer and inner wall flush With the faces of said posts comprising metal bound composition units, a series of vertical metal separators between the units and the posts and between each vertical row of units, said sepaface of said sections and interlocking with them, said vertical separators extending from the bottom of said wall to the top, and a series of horizontal metal separators, interlocking with the sections and extending between the vertical separators.

11; In a building system, a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges, a recessed portion formed in said edges, horizontal and vertical interlocking elements between said edges and having protruding portions fitting into the recesses of said edges, said elements projecting beyond the surface of the wall to form vertical and horizontal beads and constitute a feature of the ornamental treatment, giving a modernistic, straight-line elfect.

12. In a building system, a skeleton framework comprising posts and girders at the floor line, a series of separate composition wall units having metal edges flush with the faces of the posts and enclosing the girders, recessed portions formed in said edges, interlocking elements between said edges and having protruding portions fitting into the recessed portions of said edges, said interlocking elements also constituting a support for the wall units, transmitting the load thereof to the girders at the floor line.

13. In a building system, a series ofmetaledged posts, girders connecting said posts together at the floor line and a series of metal edged non-metallic wall units, the showing metal edges of the posts and wall units acting to form a part of the ornamental treatment of the building.

14. In a building system, a skeleton framework comprising posts at intervals, horizontal girders connecting said posts at the floor levels, outer and inner walls associated with said posts and horizontal girders, with-an open space between them, service connections between said walls and by-passes cast in the posts so that the service connections may be carried from floor to floor without interference with the horizontal girders.

15. In a building, a process of first erecting a foundation wall, then erecting posts thereon, then connecting girders thereto at the floor levels, then erecting section by section a series of prefabricated interlocking wall units enclosing the girders and connecting with the posts, then mounting joists on said girders, then placing prefabricated floor units on top of said joists and prefabricated 145 ceiling units. on the bottom of said joists, the various parts interlocking to form a complete water and weather-tight building.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS. 

